Cristiano Ronaldo Responds to Rumors of Retiring from Portugal National Team amid World Cup Run

Cristiano Ronaldo says he will wait until after the 2026 FIFA World Cup to decide on his future with Portugal's nation team.

"I don't make reckless decisions... I will decide after the tournament, not now," Ronaldo said after Portugal's Round of 32 win over Croatia (h/t Fabrizio Romano).

The update came after Romano reported Ronaldo's sister, Kátia Aveiro, said she had information from a "reliable source" that the World Cup was her brother's "last dance."

Ronaldo scored the first knockout goal of his World Cup career to help Portugal advance to the Round of 16 with a 2-1 victory Thursday in Toronto.

He earned his second Man of the Match Award of the tournament after tying Thursday's match against Croatia in the 68th minute on a penalty kick.

Gonçalo Ramos scored Portugal's go-ahead goal in the 94th minute before a potential game-tying tally from Croatia was waved off in extra time.

Portugal will now advance to face Spain in the Round of 16 in part thanks to Ronaldo, who has scored three goals in four World Cup matches for Portugal.

Ronaldo, 41, debuted on the international stage for Portugal in 2003.

This marks the record sixth World Cup in which Ronaldo has competed with the national team, including a fourth-place finish in the 2006 tournament and a quarterfinal finish in 2022.

Ronaldo has scored 11 goals over 26 matches in those six tournaments, including a group-stage hat trick against Spain in 2018.

The Portugal star has previously hinted he has considered when his career might end, including in a November 2025 interview with Piers Morgan in which he said he planned to retire "soon."

Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said in June he felt Ronaldo was "not thinking about the future" heading into the World Cup, per ESPN's Adriana Garcia.

Ronaldo is set to play at least one more season in the Saudi Pro League after signing a two-year deal with his club Al Nassr in June 2025.

His international career will continue at least until Portugal takes on Spain with a trip to the quarterfinals on the line this Monday in Dallas.